31 Aralık 2014 Çarşamba

English, Turkish and Dutch archeologists have encountered the
oldest finished stone tool found thus far during their research in
Turkey. The new findings show that humans began their migration
from Africa to Europe and Asia much earlier than previously
thought.

According to BBC Turkish, archeologists emphasized that Anatolia
was the most important path used by humans on their way to other
continents and they claimed that the Gediz riverbed area was used
as a settlement.

From this egg sprung Home Depot.

Danielle Schreve of the Royal Holloway University in England
said that "we think that this hand tool was used by homo erectus,
the first humans to stand up straight. They came to the Gediz
riverbed area between 1.17 and 1.24 million years ago. We also
found homo erectus skull parts in the region, as well."

30 Aralık 2014 Salı

In Bodrum district of Mugla province, a wild fox fell into an
open well and became trapped there. Some shepherds tending
their sheep at the Gaz Creek location in Konacik hamlet heard
cries coming from the well and found the stranded fox.

Fox rescue by AKUT happened near Konacik.

The shepherds summoned AKUT (Turkish search & rescue
organization) and a team of 7 AKUT personnel arrived at the
scene shortly thereafter. The AKUT team used a butterfly-net
contraption to first capture the fox and then raise it to safety,
within an hour's time. The fox was determined to be in good
health and was released back into the wild.

29 Aralık 2014 Pazartesi

TOKI (Turkish public housing administration) began work
recently on urban renewal projects in Nevsehir, which is
known for its underground cities and fairy-like stone castles,
and in Nevsehir Fortress and surrounding areas. Firstly,
1,500 risky structures were demolished and then excavtion
work began to construct new homes.

However, during the work traces of another underground
city dating back 5,000 years were encountered. The Ministry
of Culture and Tourism and university archeology faculties
were notified and research began. Despite having spent 90
million TL ($45 million) already, TOKI halted its urban renewal
project.

According to archeologists, the underground city stretches for
7 kilometers, making it Nevsehir's biggest. TOKI Chairman
Mehmet Ergun Turan provided the following information about
the hidden city: "the area has been declared a 3rd degree SIT
(protected) site. The underground city was not previously known
about and it has 7 kilometers of tunnel roads. While we were
doing construction in the area the underground city was
encountered so we stopped our work."

"We want to do what's best for Nevsehir, that's why we're
working here. We'll move the urban renewal project to the
outskirts of the city. We spent 90 million TL here but we don't
consider it a loss. The discovered underground city may be
the biggest in the world."

Nevsehir Mayor Hasan Unver said this about the underground
city: "the known underground cities in Nevsehir's districtst are
hardly anything compared to this place. The urban renewal
project comprised 750,000 square feet and 450,000 of this is
where the underground city is. We started work on the project
in 2012 and so far 44 historical works have be placed under
protection."

28 Aralık 2014 Pazar

Mehmet Ali Agca, who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II
in 1981, has visited Pope John's grave at the Vatican and left
flowers there. Agca was then taken into custody by Italian
police, who said that Agca will be deported.

According to the Italian press, Agca entered Italy from Austria.
A reporter from La Repubblica said that Agca had told him that
he entered without a visa. Agca's visit to the Vatican was
covered by the Italian news agency Adnkronos because,
according to Agca, "you were the first to give the world the
images of the moment I shot the Pope."

Agca's visit to the Pope's grave occurred on the anniversary
of the Pope pardoning him on 27 December 1983. A Vatican
spokesman, Father Ciro Benedetti said Agca was free to visit
the Vatican. However, Agca's request to meet with Pope Francis
was rejected. The Pope's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said
"He left flowers at the grave. I think that's enough."

The minibus driver who got up from his seat and began to
dance the 'horon' (eastern Black Sea folk dance) while the
vehicle was hurtling down the highway has been arrested
in Sultanbeyli, Istanbul.

The video of Murat Kandemir's antics broke records on social
media and prompted the Istanbul police into action. Kandemir
was taken into custody yesterday and his license was revoked.
In addition, he was fined 160 TL ($80). He reportly has 32
traffic violations on record.

As for Kandemir, he said that "I made a mistake. The fire of
youth took hold of me. But the road was empty at the time.
Anyway, I'm sorry."

26 Aralık 2014 Cuma

The night before last in Fatih, Istanbul, a Georgian named
Varshanidze I. got into Bekir Dil's taxi at 2 AM, pulled a knife
and demanded money. During the ensuing fight Dil was stabbed
in the chest and drove his taxi into a barrier. Dil was taken to
a hospital but died there.

Dil's older brother rushed to the hospital in tears and noted that,
in his youth, Bekir Dil was Turkey's 'tae kwon do' champion.
He lamented that "if my brother couldn't defend himself, what
chance do other taxi drivers have?" Bekir Dil was the father
of seven children.

Kills driver but too drunk to flee.

As for Varshanidze I., he was so drunk he passed out in the
taxi and was apprehended. Varshanidze I. said he didn't
remember the incident (!).

Afterwards, taxi drivers rushed to the Fatih police station,
where taxi association chief Huseyin Duman said "our friend
was killed while earning his daily bread. The 'panic button'
doesn't do any good. We want taxis with separate compartments.
We're living in a 20-million person metropolis. We can't be
sure who we're picking up as a customer."

25 Aralık 2014 Perşembe

Yasar Demir, the Provincial Director of Eduction in Bartin province,
sent the following instructions to all his school principals: "Do not give
any opportunity to celebrations for Christmas and New Year's, which
are Christian propaganda vehicles in our beautiful 99% Moslem
Anatolia."

For his part, Demir admitted that he had sent the original instructions,
explaining, "but friends, they probably HAVE done things that amount to
Christian propaganda. In any event, we don't have any problem with
Christianity. We respect everyone's religion. My message was very
clear in this regard." (!)